Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Animals are living creatures that appear in literature and serve various purposes such as symbolism, companionship for characters, or representing certain traits or characteristics.
Related terms
Anthropomorphism: Giving human characteristics or behaviors to animals.
Animal Symbolism: Using animals as symbols to represent specific ideas or qualities.
Animal Motif: The recurring presence of animals throughout a literary work, often used to convey themes or motifs.